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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt">December 27, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt">CONTACT</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Farrell Howe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Marketing & Communications Manager<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Kalamazoo Public Library<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">269.553.7879<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Farrellh@kpl.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"> </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Application for the Amanda Green Scholarship Fund Opens January 1, 2022.<br>
Deadline to apply is March 1, 2022</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Kalamazoo, MI–Monday, December 27, 2021. Online application for the Amanda Green Scholarship Fund will open on Saturday, January 1, with a deadline to apply of March 1, 2022. The scholarship will be awarded
to a student expected to attend a graduate-level library science program in fall 2022. The application process is managed by the <a href="https://www.kalfound.org/" target="_blank">Kalamazoo Community Foundation</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Applicants interested in being considered for the <i>Amanda Green Scholarship</i> fund must first complete the online application on the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s <b><a href="https://www.kalfound.org/Scholarships/HowtoApply/tabid/236/Default.aspx" target="_blank">website</a>.</b>
Information about eligibility can be found<b> <a href="https://www.kpl.gov/about/news/kalamazoo-public-library-announces-new-scholarship-fund-to-promote-the-training-and-hiring-of-librarians-of-color/">here</a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The <i>Amanda Green Scholarship</i>, named after a former library assistant in Teen Services at KPL, promotes the library profession to people of color. By providing monetary assistance to individuals seeking
a master’s degree from an accredited library science program, the library hopes to promote the training and hiring of more librarians of color in Kalamazoo and other communities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">In 2016, the Kalamazoo Public Library board passed a resolution that reaffirms the library’s commitment to, “address equal justice under the law, racial justice and institutional racism, social-economic divisions
in our community and human dignity for all through our programs, services, policies, practices and the empowerment of staff to serve our community with these values as priorities.” In addition, the library’s 2019–22 strategic plan establishes Advancing Equity
and Inclusion as a priority with a goal of developing and maintaining an informed and compassionate library staff that reflects the makeup of our diverse community. KPL is committed to making this a reality!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Amanda Green worked at KPL for 23 years (1988–2012.) Many of those years she spent in Teen Services working to give all teens the opportunity to improve their lives. Her passion and support of KPL’s mission
to support and mentor teens has been passed on for years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
<span style="color:black">The Amanda Green Scholarship Fund relies on donations from the public. To donate, please visit
</span><a href="http://www.kpl.gov/amandagreen">www.kpl.gov/amandagreen</a><span style="color:black">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">####<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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